Solid Timber Teacher Desk Delivered to a Xi'an University Lecture Hall

Project overview

Background

A university in Xi'an renovated the main lecture hall of a teaching building. The hall is a large tiered lecture space with a full-width teaching wall and multiple rows of raised seating, accommodating approximately 260 people. The renovation took place during the 2022 summer break and required replacing the podium in the teaching area with a solid timber teacher desk matched to the scale of the room. The timeline was aligned with the overall renovation schedule.

Requirements and challenges

• Worktop dimensions and visual proportion: The desk faces a full-width teaching wall. A unit that is too small would appear undersized, while one that is too large would restrict the lecturer's movement. A balance between width and depth was required.
• Cable routing and access: The desk needed to house a central control touchscreen, a desktop microphone and underfloor power outlet cabling. Cables were to remain concealed while allowing routine maintenance access.
• Material and acoustic conditions: The hall has a relatively long reverberation time. The desktop surface could not introduce noticeable reflective noise. The solid timber surface required a matte finish to prevent light reflection from affecting sightlines for rear rows.

Specification and solution

• Standard solid timber desk with adjusted dimensions: We used a solid timber model from our existing teacher desk range as the base and set the worktop depth at 620 mm and width at 900 mm to better suit the large space.
• Concealed access door in the front panel: An equipment compartment was built below the worktop. The front panel was fitted with concealed hinges, so the exterior appears uninterrupted when closed and opens for access to the control and audio wiring.
• Open-pore matte finish: The solid timber grain was retained with a matte finish to reduce reflection. Cable apertures were pre-cut at the points where the desk meets the floor outlet and trunking, leaving no visible cabling on site.

Delivery and outcome

• Quantity: One teacher desk was delivered.
• Installation fit: The floor outlet cabling, control screen wiring and microphone cabling were all routed into the equipment compartment. Visible external cabling was zero.
• Acceptance checks: Worktop level deviation was kept within 1 mm. The access door was opened and closed 50 times in testing with no abnormal noise and no sagging.

Client feedback: The desk fits the space well, all cabling is contained, there is no screen glare from the front rows during lectures, and it is easy to use.